Where in the USA Do Helicopter Accidents Occur?

HELICOPTER FACTS Contact: tony.molinaro@faa.gov

Usually, helicopter accidents occur in states where more helicopters are flying year round and where helicopters operate most often for industry purposes.

During the 10-year period from 2007 to 2016, a large percentage of helicopter operations took place west of the Rocky Mountains and that is reflected in the accident totals.

Helicopter Accidents - 2007 to 2016

U.S. Total 1,457

1. California 177

2. Texas 164

3. Florida 104

4. Arizona 87

5. Washington 57

6. Alaska 54

7. Oregon 46

8. Utah 40

9. Colorado 34 10. Nevada 32

11. Pennsylvania 32

12. Hawaii 31

13. Minnesota 31

14. Louisiana 30

Within nine states in the U.S. West (Cal, Ariz, Wash, Alask, Ore, Utah, Col, Nev, Haw), there were 558 accidents in the 10-year period, accounting for 38 percent of all helicopter accidents.

Three states on the Gulf of Mexico (Tex, Flor, La) totaled 298 accidents – 20 percent of all accidents in the country.

Two states in the north were on the list (Penn, Minn), totaling 63 accidents – 4 percent of the U.S. total.

In the remaining 36 states plus D.C. and Puerto Rico, there were 538 accidents – 37 percent of the total.

During 2017, the three states at the top of the list remain the same, but there are some differences:

1. California 21

2. Texas 12

3. Florida 9

4. Indiana 7

5. Louisiana 6

6. Nevada 5

7. Illinois 5